This blog is not for the light-hearted or easily offended. If either one of those descriptions applies to you, i would suggest you start drinking before you read this blog. A sense of humor is suggested. If you don't have one that sucks for you … find one and get a life!
Guys! It’s been 12 days since my last blog post. I’m basically NOT EVEN A BLOGGER anymore but I’m going to make an effort to improve. Well, at least that’s what I say today.
When you last heard from me I was getting ready for the furniture market. In truth, I really didn’t know what to expect but what I did NOT expect was to sell basically nothing and bring everything I owned back home. That’s what happened though.
What’s funny is that as things are occurring I keep thinking “Lynn, you need to write this shit down” but then I think “no, don’t bother Lynn because you’ll remember” and then it’s always “shit, I don’t remember what happened anymore” so that’s why you won’t get a very complete picture of my week.
So a week ago on Thursday, which was April 14th, I think, I went to the High Point Furniture Market, heretofore referred to as HPMKT, to assist in hanging up my extra paintings in the Seminar room. Did I tell you guys that? The people who run the market wanted to put some of the paintings up in the Seminar room. I wasn’t keen but then if figured “exposure” so I said yes. Then they asked if I could bring EVEN MORE paintings and I thought “colossal pain in the ass” but they begged (kind of) and I relented (begrudgingly) so I brought more paintings.
I even brought paintings that I didn’t think were so great because they had “A LOT OF WHITE WALLS” which is technically “NOT MY FUCKING PROBLEM” but apparently I’m nicer than I thought I was so I did.
Of course, when I got there on Thursday to assist with placement they weren’t ready. After being a bit annoyed (in my head) I left. Officially, the HPMKT started on Saturday for my area but unofficially, I was told I should be there Friday. So I showed up Friday at 12:00 to hang the pictures in the seminar room and to “unofficially” sell all my paintings.
First, the seminar room had been booked so we COULD NOT HANG THE DAMN PAINTINGS … AGAIN!!! And also, nobody was really looking at the stuff. After meeting all my neighbors (Scott Kerr Art and Christophe Pourny Furniture) I left. I was positive things would improve.
Saturday I was up bright and early bearcat I didn’t want to be late on my FIRST DAY OF WORK RIGHT????
I got there at 7:30 and the market opened at 8:00. They had a Starbucks in the building but they didn’t open until 8:00. Of course they wouldn’t serve me early so by the time I got back down there the line was huge. TYPICAL.
So Saturday was a really depressing day for me. Even though I didn’t think I’d sell out I thought I’d get SOME attention but I really didn’t but the artist next to me sold a ton of paintings and I didn’t even get any glances. I was really depressed and convinced that I’d never make it through the market.
His name was Scott Kerr and I really liked his art and he was nice and actually even told me some techniques he used and gave me shipping hints (of course, to ship you have to sell a painting!) but I was still sort of sad ya know???
HPMKT was over at 7:00 PM and I left and went home and was basically a sad sack. Kevin and Andie, who had dropped by that day, made me feel better and I realized that I was an idiot and that this was a “learning experience” and that I “shouldn’t compare myself to others” and by Sunday I was in a MUCH better frame of mind.
More on that later.
Hope you’re enjoying my adventure.
I both loved and hated doing markets. I loved talking with people but I hated it when they looked at my hard work like it was a bug to be squashed. Lol. My only advise is not to take it personally and soldier on. You will find your audience. It takes time. I love your paintings from the photos. Good luck.
Thanks Ro. I’m considering an art fair